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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 14th February 2010


IRTS 78th AGM

Dundalk Amateur Radio Society shall be hosting the 78th Irish Radio Transmitters Society A.G.M over the weekend of Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April 2010.

The venue for the event is the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk Co.Louth, a number of rooms have been reserved for anyone staying overnight, however it is advisable to book a room early.

The Annual IRTS Meal will commence on Saturday 24th April 2010 at 8.30pm.The Radio Rally will commence on Sunday 25th April 2010 at 11.00am, followed by the IRTS AGM at 2.00pm.

Further details for booking trader’s tables or any other info please e-mail the following Thos EI2JD at email address chairman /at/ ei7dar.com or Peter EI4HX at email address secretary /at/ ei7dar.com


Nomination of Awards for IRTS Trophies.

The time is here again for nominations for the several awards for IRTS trophies When considering your nominations please refer to previous successful nominees as included in www.irts.ie/cgi/awards.cgi

Closing date for nominations is April 2nd 2010


Request for Return of Trophies presented in 2009

It is time once again to recall all trophies presented at the 2009 AGM.

Trophies and cups can be returned to the IRTS stand at the Phoenix Radio Rally, or to any IRTS Committee Member to arrive to Peter EI4HX on or before the IRTS committee meeting in early March 2010. This will allow time for engraving to be done, and also any small repairs.


AREN Meeting

The AREN Annual meeting took place last weekend in Clonmel County Tipperary. The broad agenda included various items, including a review of previous year’s activities, an Update on the Major Emergency Management Process and various other items. The AREN Mobile Command Post (MCP) was in attendance for everyone to inspect. and a wide ranging discussion on various aspects of Emergency Communications was had.

AREN would like to welcome Ger McNamara EI4GXB into the roll of Public Information Officer.

Many thanks to all who travelled long distances to participate.


QRP at Lough Erne Rally

Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV is the world’s best known QRP enthusiast. He will attend a major QRP display at the Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Rally on Sunday 11 April. The Rally is again in SHARE on the shores of Lough Erne, where islands abound with remains of ancient Celtic Christianity, George’s other keen interest.

Graham Firth, G3MFJ, who is another listed in the International QRP Hall of Fame, is bringing the entire G-QRP Club stall, with lots of interest for low-power radio amateurs, and those intrigued by building their own rigs. Graham will also tour the Erne’s historic Second World War flying boat sites. On a second QRP table, Dom Baines M1KTA will display home-built kits, receivers, transmitters and accessories, similar to his very popular exhibition at the recent GQRP Convention. This will be another excellent opportunity to examine, ask questions and get expert advice from a master kit-builder.

A third and most interesting display will be set up by Brendan Minish EI6IZ, from the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network. His stall will feature top quality Elecraft QRP kits from the USA, along with much good advice from Brendan for novice and experienced kit builders alike. Brendan’s display will also feature Elecraft’s latest K3 kit, everything you need to build your own 100 watt rig to standards of quality that match the best on the amateur radio market.

So, for all radio amateurs and experimenters interested in today’s thriving and traditional heart of amateur radio, home construction and low power operation, the place to be on Sunday 11 April has to be the Lough Erne Rally, near Lisnaskea in Fermanagh. Details are on the usual rally lists and www.learc.eu .


Dundalk Amateur Radio Society

Recently DAR have added a HF receiver to their website, this can be controlled via the Internet this is another well appointed addition to all that DAR have available.

The DAR contest team of EI0W would like to welcome Anthony EI8GHB as a new team member.

Congrats also to Thos for all his hard work operating in IOTA a photo of his recent IOTA antenna System is on the front cover of the current issue of RadCom.

The DAR website can be found at www.ei7dar.com


Geopark Weekend

This years Geopark Communication weekend takes place over the weekend of 22 May – 23 May Radio stations from around the world will be exchanging greetings over the airwaves with Radio Operators operating special event stations from Geoparks of which there are 53 Parks of this status worldwide.


Grenada operation

Harry, AC8G, will once again be active as J37K beginning March 4th.

Activity will include the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/High-Power entry.

Harry tells readers to look for him outside of the contest mid-mornings on March 4-5th. He expects most of his time will be on 15 or 17 meters SSB beaming EU during openings. However, Harry will check 10 and 12 meters occasionally.

QSL to AC8G, stateside direct with SASE. For others sending by the Bureau, please clearly mark for QSLs to go to AC8G.


LORAN-C shut down

On February 8 the U.S Coast Guard shut down the Loran-C a navigation system that has been in use since World War II.

LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) made use of a network of Low Frequency (LF) radio transmitters and the receivers used these multiple signals to determine the location and speed of the vessel. It has served mariners and aviators well for over 60 years.


Northern Ireland's first D-STAR 'hot spot'

Northern Ireland has its first D-STAR 'hot spot' - Belfast simplex node MB6NI.

A hot spot provides access onto the D-Star network and MB6NI is located in Carrickfergus and was a project of GEARS to get more D-Star access in the Greater Belfast, Belfast Lough areas.

The spot is run by Brian GI6DKQ and the plan is to try and get more amateur radio clubs or individuals to put up their own spot and create a hot spot network covering Northern Ireland.

MB6NI is running on 145.2125 MHz

Further information can be had from Brian GI6DKQ


CARA AGM

The Crossakiel Amateur Radio Association’s AGM is being held at the Welcome Wagon Crossakiel, on 17th February at 20.30pm.

All members are requested to attend.


South East Amateur Radio Group

The Annual General Meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place at 8.00 p.m. on Monday the 22nd of February 2010 in the Roanmore Social & Sports Club, Cleaboy Road, Waterford.

All members are asked to attend and visitors are welcome.


Limerick Radio Club

The AGM of the Club will be held on Thursday 25th February 2010 at the Limerick Institute of Technology at 7:30 pm. All members of the Club are requested to attend.

The regular monthly meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month (11th February) has been cancelled to facilitate the AGM later in the month.


South Dublin Radio Club

The South Dublin Radio Club annual general meeting (AGM) will take place on Tuesday 2nd of March.

Classes are still being run every Tuesday evening and visitors are always welcome.


Rallies

For Rally info and contact details please check out the IRTS Website at www.irts.ie/cgi/rallies.cgi


This week in History

1876 Elisha Grey transmitted music over a telephone line.

1880 Edison notes experiments on what would be the 'Edison effect' electron flow.

1908 First round-the-world car race begins New York, ends Paris in August.


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, preferably via e-mail to “charlie dot carolan at gmail dot com” Or by phone to 087-6265418 News can also be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam at irts dot ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services.

Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

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